Koh Phangnan New years eve. We catch the bus from Krabi town to Surat Thani It is an early start for us both.We are really excited as we are meeting up with the gang again! After the 2 and half hour bus journey we are herded on to the ferry awaiting us at Don Sak- Surat Thani. The ferries are jam packed with passengers as this is the place to party and is renowned all over the world for it's full moon parties. The weather is a bit overcast and the sea was somewhat choppy but nothing could extinguish our excitement to meet up with everyone.

We are nearly 10 minutes away now from the port of Koh Phangnan and Sam is calling to see where we would be and what time we get in so that he could come and meet us.

We are just disembarking from the ferry and Karen and Perry are there waiting... it was so good to see their friendly faces! Sam is waiting for the girls to get ready and instead Perry is playing taxi driver on his scooter by taking us each to the Masons Arms-an english pub which is incredibly uncanny to any country pub you would see back home (see photo). It is Sams birthday today also, I am looking forward to eating some English fayre and also having a taste of cider which also is as easy to find as rocking horse poo anywhere else in Thailand.

We arrive at the pub and there was all the gang sat down it was so good to see them all . All of us exchanging stories it was so good to all be together , I had brought Sam a packet of ham and cheese pretzels He loved them!

So after the roast dinner was eaten and the ciders drank it was onward to Sam and Jens place. The roads here were so potholled and quite bumpy , we arrive at their abode and it absolutely stunning with a breathtaking view across the coast. The sea was crystal clear- it was so inviting,The girls get the lilos out whilst Sam, Phil and I are dancing away on the balcony. We decide to make a punch whilst we all get facepainted and ready for the evenings actions.

With the punch nearly all gone Karen and Perry arrive and it is nearly time to make tracks to Haad Rin. We are now en route there in a taxi. The street are crammed with people evereywhere all in dayglo face/body paint all kinds of weird and wonderful designs - I personally think that Jades zebra face paint is the best , but I guess I would seeming as it was me who painted it on! After paying the entry fee of 150 baht (£3) we recieve a wrist band and are now entering the carnage amongst the streets. It is just wall to wall crazyness to as far as the eye can see, we all try and link hands so as not to lose ourselves amongst the hoards of people... It is truly spectacular how many people are here. Now making tracks down towards the beach you cannot move for how many people are filling the streets; it is getting busier and busier as we head down.

Now on Haad Rin and just managing to squeeze through the Cactus Bar on the seafront, it opens up and you can see the shere volume of people on the beach, the music absolutly blasting out amazing beats, strobe lights and day glo painted revellers... it was a sight to be seen! Jade and I were loving it, immediatly we were dancing away with the others. We were all making sure not to lose each other with literally 20 minutes to go till the countdown for new years, everyone beaming with smiles and laughter and sangsom.

As the clock strikes 12 an amazing array of fireworks were let off either side of us, with many colours cascading in the sky, Jade and I absolutly love fireworks. They where still going after 15 minutes. after they had stopped it was time for us to dance the night away and this is just what we did .

The morning after the night before , an early start for Jade and I... we were like rotting corpses making our way to the ferry terminal, we bid farewell to Koh Phangnan and all the geoffs who we are sadly going to miss but for sure will keep in contact as they are pretty much all southerners! The sea was trecherous and the rain poured for the whole journey; Jade and I so glad that we sat in the upstairs "first class" for 50pence each and luckily there is no throwing up from either of us... we make it back to Ao nang safe and sound .